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Bishop Creek Vision Project: Addressing Bacteria Impairment in Inyo County

Update on the Bishop Creek Vision Project, a collaborative approach with stakeholders to address bacteria impairment in Bishop Creek, Inyo County. Learn about the project progress, stakeholder engagement, and next steps.

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Bishop Creek Vision Project: Addressing Bacteria Impairment in Inyo County

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  1. Update on Bishop Creek Vision Projectfor Inyo Mono IRWM • TMDL-alt project to address bacteria impairment in Bishop Creek, Inyo Co. • Collaborative approach with stakeholders rather than a “traditional” TMDL Contactsed.hancock@waterboards.ca.govcindy.wise@waterboards.ca.gov

  2. Overview – update since January 2018 IRWM discussion • What is a Vision Project? • How were water quality issues identified in Bishop? • Vision Project work completed to date • Stakeholder engagement for data inventory • Next steps

  3. What is a Vision Project? • 2013: USEPA announces a new collaborative framework for implementing the CWA Section 303(d) program called the Long-Term Vision for Assessment, Restoration, and Protection under the Clean Water Act Section 303(d) Program (The Vision). • Watershed-wide planning initiative focused on improving WQ • Provides flexibility in using available tools beyond TMDLs to attain WQ restoration

  4. How were bacteria issues identified in Bishop Creek? • 2012/2013: SWAMP screening detects unusually high bacteria concentrations • 2013-2016: Diagnostic sampling reveals bacteria concentrations in the creek as well above WQOs • Sampling strategy was somewhat “shotgun”; data set is useful for identifying that there is a water quality impairment, but less useful for source analysis due to temporal variation in site visits • 2014: Contractor working for Lahontan performs MST analysis in Bishop Creek as part of wider-focused Eastern Sierra Bacteria Study

  5. SWAMP sampling locations, Bishop Creek, CA

  6. Vision Project Timeline of Key Events • 2014: Inyo County Health Dept. posts warning signs in portions of creek where water contact rec is known to occur • 2014-present: Paiute Tribe continues to post warning signs on sections of the creek which flow through tribal lands • 303(d) listing for Indicator Bacteria due with adoption of pending 2018 Integrated Report (likely November 2019) • 2015: In anticipation of listing, Water Board identifies Bishop Creek as Vision Project candidate • 2017: Staff begin work on Vision Project Plan • Expected: 2022 Vision Project Plan complete

  7. Potential sources of bacteria • Grazing related sources from numerous grazing leases • Urban and suburban runoff (pet wastes, ornamental residential creek diversions, urban NPS) • Wastewater exfiltration (sewer laterals, WWTP collection infrastructure) • Natural sources

  8. Vision Project Work Completed to Date • Planning and Outreach Documents (Project Charter, Problem Statement, Fact Sheet, Draft Outreach Plan) • Initial stakeholder outreach: Paiute Tribe, LADWP, City of Bishop, Inyo County, Eastern Sierra Land Trust, Eastern Sierra CSD • Website and listserve https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/lahontan/water_issues/programs/tmdl/bishopcreek.html • Sanitary Sewer Audit (April 2018) led by staff from Lahontan South Office (Victorville) • Data analysis identified four (4) grazing leases west of the City of Bishop which are probable major contributors to bacteria in the creek

  9. Two Key Stakeholders Contributing data to Vision Project (to date) • Bishop Paiute Tribe • Collecting E. coli data for ~20 years above and below tribal lands (4 locations, 2 on each fork of creek) • Los Angeles Dept. of Water and Power (LADWP) • Major land owner in Owens Valley • Collecting E. coli and MST data from Bishop Creek since 2014

  10. If Other Stakeholders have Bishop Creek Data for Us to Consider, Data Sharing Resources Are Available • Regional Monitoring Coordinator can provide training and information to stakeholders who collect water quality data and are willing/desire to upload that data to CEDEN • Vision Project staff can connect stakeholders with the regional data center (RDC) or to the Regional Monitoring Coordinator to assist in data upload

  11. Next Steps for Vision Project • Detailed source analysis using Lahontan, LADWP, Tribe data, available MST data • Stakeholder outreach and education • Connect ranchers with NRCS • Healthy watershed education program in collaboration with Paiute Tribe • Water Board is preparing a waste discharge permit (WDR) for LADWP grazing lands (planned adoption by November 2019) • Vision staff expect that WDR will go a long way to attain WQOs in Bishop Creek • WDR will be a major implementation tool for Vision Project • Complete Vison Project Plan document

  12. Questions? Ed.Hancock@waterboards.ca.gov Cindy.Wise@waterboards.ca.gov https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/lahontan/water_issues/programs/tmdl/bishopcreek.html

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